Buddhism, Politics and the Limits of Law - The Pyrrhic Constitutionalism of Sri Lanka

Examining Sri Lanka's religious and legal pasts, this is the first extended study of Buddhism and constitutional law.

List of contents

Acknowledgments; Commonly used abbreviations; A note on translation and language; 1. Introduction: religion, law and the pyrrhic constitutionalism of Sri Lanka; Part I. The Past Lives of the Buddhism Chapter: 2. Managing religion at the end of empire; 3. Contesting constitutions in the 1950s and 1960s; 4. Multivalent solutions: drafting the Buddhism chapter; Part II. From Creation to Implementation: 5. Legal battles for Buddhism; 6. Battles within Buddhism; 7. Constitutional conversions; 8. Conclusion: the costs of constitutional law; References; Index.

About the author

Benjamin Schonthal is Senior Lecturer in Buddhism and Asian Religions at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He received his Ph.D. in the field of history of religions at the University of Chicago. His research examines the intersection of religion, law and politics in South and Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Buddhism.

Summary

It is widely assumed that a well-designed and well-implemented constitution can help ensure religious harmony in modern states. Drawing on groundbreaking research from Sri Lanka, with a focus on Buddhism, this book argues that constitutional law can be more harmful than helpful when it comes to addressing conflicts over religion.

Product details

• Authors: Benjamin Schonthal, Benjamin (University of Otago Schonthal, Schonthal Benjamin
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.03.2018
• EAN: 9781316606414
• ISBN: 978-1-316-60641-4
• No. of pages: 318
• Series: Comparative Constitutional Law and Policy; Comparative Constitutional Law; Comparative Constitutional Law and Policy
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Law > Public law, administrative procedural law, constitutional procedural law; Sri Lanka, LAW / Constitutional, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Constitutional & administrative law, Constitutional and administrative law: general